NMDA receptors are involved in dithiothreitol-induced hypothermia

Sulfhydryl-reducing agents, such as dithiothreitol, modulate glutamate N-me thyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. Since these receptors are involved in th ermoregulatory processes, we studied the effects of their positive modulati on, through a dithiothreitol-induced reduction of the receptor redox site, on thermoregulation in rats maintained at an ambient temperature of 20-22 d egreesC. Given intraperitoneally at the dose of 25 and 50 mg . kg(-1), dith iothreitol induced dose-dependent hypothermia. The prior administration of 0.5 mg . kg(-1) of (+/-)-dizocilpine maleate (MK801), a non-competitive glu tamate NMDA receptor antagonist, blocked most of the dithiothreitol-induced hypothermia. MK801 given alone was followed by slight transient hypertherm ia. This confirms the involvement of NMDA receptors in thermoregulation and suggests that they might be under redox modulation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce B.V. All rights reserved.